DNA damage induced in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by industrial solid waste and municipal sludge leachates

Abstract

Exposure of humans to toxic compounds occurs mostly in the form of complex mixtures. Leachates, consisting of mixtures of many chemicals, are a potential risk to human health. In the present study, leachates of solid wastes from a polyfiber factory (PFL), an aeronautical plant (AEL), and a municipal sludge leachate (MSL) were assessed for their ability to induce DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using the alkaline Comet assay. The leachates also were examined for their physical and chemical properties. Lymphocytes were incubated with 0.5-15.0% concentrations (pH range 7.1-7.4) of the test leachates for 3 hr at 37 degrees C, and treatment with 1 mM ethyl methanesulfonate served as a positive control. All three leachates induced significant (P < 0.05), concentration-dependent increases in DNA damage compared with the negative control, as measured by increases in Olive tail moment (arbitrary units), tail DNA (%), and tail length (mum). A comparison of these variables among the treatment groups indicated that the MSL induced the most DNA damage. Inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry analysis of the leachates indicated that they contained high concentrations of heavy metals, viz. iron, manganese, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and lead. The individual, synergistic, or antagonistic effects of these chemicals in the leachates may be responsible for the DNA damage. Our data indicate that the ever-increasing amounts of leachates from waste landfill sites have the potential to induce DNA damage and suggest that the exposure of human populations to these leachates may lead to adverse health effects.

Analysis of metal ion‐induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and necrosis in human (Jurkat) T‐cells demonstrates Ni2+ and V3+ are more toxic than other metals: Al3+, Be2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Mo5+, Nb5+, Zr2+

“…The amount of DNA damage (measured by the comet tail length) was normalized to untreated controls, resulting in a DNA damage index (IDD). 34 Measurements of 50 different cells from two separate slides at each concentration for each metal were performed with a public domain image analysis program for the single cell electrophoresis (comet) assay.…”

Effect of landfill leachate on cell cycle, micronucleus, and sister chromatid exchange in Triticum aestivum

“…Aquatic animal assay using goldfish (Carassius auratus) also indicates that raw landfill leachate induced DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes, and increased the frequency of micronucleus (MN) in gill cells [4]. Investigation on mammals shows that both municipal landfill leachate and industrial solid waste leachate could cause the increase of MN and chromosomal aberration (CA) frequency, and contribute to the formation of DNA damage in mouse bone marrow and blood cells in vivo [5][6][7], and may be responsible for the DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes [8]. The cytogenetic abnormalities and DNA damage induced by landfill leachate implicate that humans consuming leachate contaminated water are at increased risk of developing adverse health consequences.…”

Assessment of the status of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Lucknow – Capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India

“…The waste pose serious hazard to human health and environment if improperly stored, treated, transported, disposed off or managed (Misra et al, 2005). Small amount of leachate can pollute large amount of groundwater posing serious health hazard due to consumption of such contaminated water (Bakare et al, 2007). In several earlier studies, it has been observed that all of the Indian cities dispose their waste in few kilometer distances from the city in open dumping places without having concept of scientific techniques of landfilling and about its impact on human health.…”